The Bijou;
or Annual of Literature and the Arts
compiled by William Fraser
London: William Pickering,
1828
| [Page 198] |  |
| THAT beautiful and starry brow, | 1 |
| With youth and joy all splendent now — | 2 |
| Can it be marred by years? | 3 |
| That passionless and stainless breast, | 4 |
| Where innocence hath raised her nest — | 5 |
| Must it be racked by fears? | 6 |
| That glowing cheek and sun- bright eye | 7 |
| Whence laughter wings its archery — | 8 |
| Will it be stained with tears? | 9 |
| Such is, alas! the bitter doom | 10 |
| That waits each tenant of the tomb; — | 11 |
| And how canst thou, young bud of beauty be, | 12 |
| Excluded from the pale of destiny! | 13 |
| But years will pass nor leave behind | 14 |
| One stain upon thy seraph mind — | 15 |
| Then, come, thou fearful age! | 16 |
| And fears that rack thy breast may prove | 17 |
| The token sure of passionate love — | 18 |
| Such is love's heritage! | 19 |
| [Page 199] |  |
| And tears from pity's fount will flow, | 20 |
| And on the cheek full sunny glow, | 21 |
| Of joy the fond presage! | 22 |
| Thy days shall onward wing their way, | 23 |
| Like the month of fragrance- breathing May; | 24 |
| Or should Grief come thy beauties to enshroud | 25 |
| It shall pass o'er thee like an April cloud. | 26 |
from The Bijou, 1828, pp. 198-199 |
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